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Santa Barbara Mission 



' At every Mission there nvere ivalled gardens 
and iva'ving palms ' ' 



Drift 0'T>ream5 

Racine ^c^osKe? 




San TF'raitclsco. (Tdllfornltt 
19U 






COPTRIGHT 1911 

BY 

RACINE McROSKEY 




TO FELLOW DREAMERS 



" // is a question, whether it were not better to be 
the shabbiest of fools, and know the way up the little 
stair of imagination to the land of dreams, than the 
wisest of men who see nothing that the eyes do not show, 
and feel nothing that the hands may not touch.'' 

OLIVE SCHREINER. 



CONTENTS 

Page 
The Great Franciscans And Their Woric - - 9 

An Indian Lament ---___ 34 
In Years To Come - - -. - - - 36 
A Prophesy --_-___ 38 
Friendship - - - - - - - -40 

One Hour In A Thousand Years - - - 41 
An Uninvited Guest - - - - - - 45 

The Border Gate - - - - - -48 

Closing The Club Year ------ 50 




THE GREAT FRANCISCANS 
AND THEIR WORK. 

' * Like a dream they pass aivay, but the memory 
nvill ii've fore'ver. ' ' 

I BOUT eighty miles north of 
Rome, in a singularly pictur- 
esque region of central Italy, 
built upon a steep hill, is 
situated the city of Assisi 
(As-se-ze). It is surrounded 
by a wall, flanked with tow- 
ers, and overhung by lofty citadels in ruins. 
Assisi occupies the site of the ancient Roman 
city Assisium, and presents the remains of the 
forum, the baths and the aqueducts of the 
days of the Romans. 

(1182.) It is the birthplace of St. Francis, 
who was the founder of the order of mendi- 
cants that bears his name, and the home of 
the first monastery, the Convento Sacro, a 
large and beautiful structure, and one of the 
earliest specimens of the Gothic style of archi- 
tecture in Italy. 

9 



DRIFT a DREAMS 

The baptismal name of the saint was 
Giovanni, but his father, Pietro Bernardone, 
who was a rich merchant, gave him the sur- 
name of " Francisco " out of his predilediion 
for France, with which country he had an 
extensive trade. His mother was of the noble 
family of Pica, and a woman of gentle piety 
and noble character. 

Giovanni was well and carefully raised, and 
at the early age of fourteen was taken into 
business by his father. After ten years of the 
pursuit of business, well mixed with the social 
pleasures of the day, there came a time of 
deep meditation, and after long pondering he 
abandoned his old friends and haunts, and 
returning all his belongings, even to his 
clothing, to his father, he embraced a life of 
rigid penance and utter poverty. 

His object was to lead a life as near as pos- 
sible modeled after that of Christ, and by 
absolute renunciation of the world to attain 
evangelical perfection. 

He retired to a grotto near Assisi and gave 
himself up to penance and profound meditation 
on the sufferings of Christ, for a long time. 

Coming out again, he was filled with a 
great enthusiasm and happiness. It is recorded 

10 



THE GREJT FRANCISCANS JND THEIR WORK 

that during the months when St. Francis went 
up and down the streets of Assisi, carrying in 
his deHcate, unused hands the stones for re- 
building the Saint Damian's chapel, he was 
continually singing psalms, breaking forth 
into ejaculations of gratitude, his face beam- 
ing as that of one who saw visions of unspeak- 
able delight. 

How much of the spirit or instinct of 
prophecy there might have been in his exult- 
ant joy, only he himself knew. But it would 
seem strange if there had not been vouchsafed 
to him some partial revelation of the splendid 
results which would follow the carrying out 
in the world of the divine impulses which 
had blazed up in his soul. 

His austerities and simple eloquence soon 
attracted attention, and it was not long before 
others, drawn by his ardent example, sought 
to follow in his steps and join with him in 
his austere mode of life. 

It is certain that very early in his career 
Francis had the purpose of founding an order, 
whose members, being utterly unselfish in 
life, should be fit heralds of God and mighty 
helpers of men. 

His first companions were fellow townsmen, 

11 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

Bernard of Quintavalle, a rich and noble lay- 
man, and Peter of Catana, a canon of the 
cathedral. 

After much entreaty the church j^ave its 
sandion to the ''Seraphic's Saints" band of 
" Fratri Minores," or lesser brothers, and 
the organized work of the Franciscan Order 
began. 

That was in the year 1208, and from then 
until now the Franciscans have been, in the 
literal sense of the word, " helpers of men." 

Other orders of the Catholic Church have 
won more distinction in the way of learning, 
political power, marvelous suffering of pen- 
ances and deprivations; but the record of the 
Franciscans is in the main a record of lives 
and work like the life and work of their 
founder. 

The rule which St. }'>ancis prescribed for 
his followers consisted of the gospel counsels 
of perfection, to which he added some things 
necessary to the uniformity of their manner 
of life. 

He exhorts his brethren to manual labors, 
but will have them content to receive for it 
things necessary for life, not money. He 
bids them not to be ashamed to beg alms, 

12 



THE GREJT FRJNCISCJNS JND THEIR WORK 

remembering the poverty of Christ, and for- 
bids them to preach in any place without the 
Bishop's Hcense. 

There were twenty-seven precepts in the 
rule laid down for the order, all of which 
were declared by several Pontiffs as binding 
on the friars of the order, under pain of mortal 
sin. They described the carrying out of the 
vows of poverty, chastity and obedience; 
regulated the dress to be worn ; ordered that 
the friars go barefoot; specified feasts and 
enjoined a blind, unlimited obedience to 
superiors. 

The habit he gave them was a dull grey 
gown of coarse cloth with a pointed capouch, 
or hood, one under tunic and drawers, and a 
cord around the waist. The costume closely 
resembled that worn by poor shepherds in that 
part of Italy. Among other things he said: — 

** Let your behaviour in the world be such 
that everyone who sees or hears you may 
praise the Heavenly Father." 

" Preach peace to all; but have it in your 
hearts still more than on your lips." 

*'Give no occasion of anger or scandal to 
any, but by your gentleness lead all men to 
goodness, peace and union." 

13 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

"We are called to heal the wounded and 
recall the erring, for there are many who 
appear to you as limbs of the devil, who will 
one day be disciples of Jesus Christ." 

In 1210 St. Francis sought confirmation of 
his rule of the Sovereign Pontiff Innocent III. 
At first he rejected the saint's petition and St. 
Francis humbly withdrew to solitary prayer. 
That night the Pontiff dreamed of a palm 
springing up at his feet that waxed until it 
became a great tree. The impression grew 
vividly upon him that the palm signified the 
poor petitioner, so he ordered search made 
for him and he was found and brought. The 
Pope declared that he had seen the Lateran 
Basilica falling and held up by one despised 
man who set his back against the wall and 
propped it. "Truly," said he, "here is 
that man who by his work and teachings will 
sustain the Church of Christ." 

Some years later St. Francis drew up the 
rule in more compendious form, and it was 
solemnly ratified by Honorius III. in 1223. 
The sanction of Innocent III. in 1210 had 
been a verbal assent. 

Upon the death of St. Francis in 1226, the 
next Minister-General of the entire Order was 

14 



THE GREAT FRANCISCANS JND THEIR WORK 

Elias of Cortona, an ambitious, restless, tyran- 
nical man. He relaxed some of the stern 
rules, and controversy arose and the order 
was divided into Conventionals and Obser- 
vantines. As the names imply, the Conven- 
tionals accept the lighter rules and conventions 
v^hile the Observantines held to the first 
rigorous rules. 

No Order of the Church has surpassed the 
zeal of the Franciscans, and to them much 
credit for the discovery of America must be 
given, as Fray John Perez de Marchena, 
guardian of a convent near Seville and a 
learned cosmographer, entered warmly into 
the plans of Columbus and greatly influenced 
Queen Isabella, whose confessor he had been, 
to fit out the expedition of 1492. Within a 
year or two Fray John himself came to 
America and opened the first Christian church 
in the new world, at a small settlement in 
Hayti. As early as 1342, or one hundred and 
fifty years before the discovery of America, 
the guardianship of the Holy Places in Jeru- 
salem was committed to the Order, and they 
still retain it. 



15 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

Among the treasures of the Franciscan 
College of Santa Barbara, is an old daguerreo- 
type, taken from a portrait painted more than 
one hundred years ago at the College of San 
Fernando, in Mexico. 

The face is one, once seen, never to be 
forgotten; full of spirituality, tenderness and 
unutterable pathos. The mouth and chin 
are delicately sensitive, the forehead and eyes 
strong, radiant with quenchless purpose, but 
filled with that solemn, yearning, almost 
superhuman, sadness which is the sign and 
seal on the faces of men born to die for the 
sake of their fellows. It is the face of Father 
Junipero Serra, the first founder of Franciscan 
Missions in South California. There is a 
notable likeness between the face of Father 
Junipero and that of St. Francis. The small 
and delicate features, the broad forehead and 
the expression of great tenderness, are the 
same in both. But the saint had a joyousness 
that his illustrious follower never knew. 

He was born of lowly people, in the island 
of Majorca in 1712, and while he was yet a 
little child sang in the choir of the Convent 
of San Bernardino. 

He was but sixteen when he entered the 

16 



THE GREAT FRJNCISCJNS AND THEIR WORK 

Franciscan order and before he was eighteen 
he had taken the final vows. On becoming 
a monk he laid aside his baptismal name of 
Michael Joseph and took the name of Juni- 
pero, after that quaintest and drollest of all 
St. Francis' early companions. 

At the time when Junipero Serra entered 
the Majorca convent three other young monks 
were studying there — Palou, Verger and 
Crespi. The four became intimate and affec- 
tionate companions and this friendship had 
much to do with the success of the great 
enterprise in which afterwards they jointly 
labored, and to which even in their student 
days, they looked forward with passionate 
longing. 

New Spain was, from the beginning, the 
goal of their most ardent wishes, and at last, 
after long years of delays and monastic routine, 
in 1749 there assembled at Cadiz a great body 
of missionaries destined chiefly for Mexico, 
and Palou and Serra received permission to 
join the band. Arriving at Cadiz and finding 
two vacancies left in the party, they warmly 
pleaded that Crespi and Verger be allowed to 
go also. At the last moment this permission 
was given, and the four friends set sail, joyful, 

17 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

in the same ship. The voyage to Vera Cruz 
lasted ninety-nine days and was full of great 
trials; starvation threatened and storms beat 
the ship, but through it all Father Junipero's 
courage never failed. 

For nineteen years after their arrival in 
Mexico, Serra and his companions were kept 
at work there, under the guidance and control 
of the College of San Fernando, in founding 
Missions and preaching. 

On the suppression of the Jesuit Order in 
1767 and the consequent expulsion from all 
the Spanish dominions, it was decided to send 
a body of Franciscans to take charge of the 
Jesuit Missions in California. These were all 
in Lower California, no attempt at settlement 
having yet been made in Upper California. 
Once more, the friends, glad and exultant, 
joined a missionary band bound to new wil- 
dernesses. There were but three now, Verger 
remaining behind in charge of the College 
of San Fernando. The band numbered six- 
teen and Serra was put in charge of it and 
was appointed President of all the California 
Missions. 

It was now the purpose of Spain to proceed 
as soon as possible with the colonization of 

18 



THE GREAT FRANCISCANS AND THEIR WORK 

Upper California. In those days the passion 
of the Church alHed itself gladly with the 
purpose of the State, and the latter had many 
statesmen and soldiers of fervid religion. 
Such a one was Joseph de Galvez, who held 
the office of Visator-General and Commander, 
representing the person of the King, and in- 
specfling the workings of the Government in 
every province of the Spanish empire. Upon 
him rested the responsibility of the practical 
organization of the first expedition into 
Upper California. It was he who ordered 
the carrying of all sorts of seeds, of vegetables, 
grains and flowers; everything that would 
grow in Old Spain he ordered planted in the 
New. He ordered that two hundred head 
of cattle should be taken from the northern- 
most Mission of Lower California and carried 
to the new posts. He also packed with his 
own hands sacred ornaments and vessels for 
church ceremonies. 

His adlivity, enthusiasm and generosity 
were inexhaustible and he had humor as 
well, for when discussing the names of Mis- 
sions to be founded. Father Junipero said to 
him, *' But is there to be no Mission for 
our Father St. Francis?", he replied, "If 

19 



DRIFT 0\D REAMS 

St. Francis wants a Mission let him show us 
his post and we will put one there for him." 

This first expedition into California was 
divided into two parts, one to go by sea and 
one by land; the sea party in two ships, the 
land party in two divisions. Every possible 
provision and precaution was thought of by 
the wise Galvez, but nothing could prevent 
the journey from being a terribly hard one. 
Junipero, with his charad:eristic ardor, insisted 
on accompanying one of the land parties, 
although he suffered from an old wound on 
the leg, and the second day out he was help- 
less. Portola, the military commander of the 
party, begged him to be carried in a litter, 
but this he could not brook, so he called a 
muleteer to him and told him to consider 
him as one of his beasts and treat him accord- 
ingly. The muleteer then mixed herbs and 
applied them with such good results that 
the Father could proceed on his journey the 
next day. 

They had set out on their journey on March 
24th, and it was not until the 13th of May 
that they reached the high ground and had 
their first view of the Bay of San Diego and 
saw the masts of the ships lying at anchor 

20 



THE GREAT FRJNCISCJNS AND THEIR WORK 

there. As soon as the San Diego camp was 
reached great joy filled every heart. The 
friars who had come by sea ran to meet and 
embrace their brethren. 

Six weeks later the second land party with 
Junipero Serra arrived, eager to proceed to 
the establishment of the Mission. Sickness 
delayed this until on the 16th of July, 1769, 
a cross was raised, mass was sung in a rude 
booth of branches and reeds ; for want of an 
organ firearms were discharged ; and thus was 
founded the Mission of San Diego and the 
laying of the corner stone of the civilization 
of California. 

Only two days after this the indefatigable 
Father Crespi with Portola set out on another 
overland march to find Monterey, but were 
unsuccessful and after much suffering returned 
to San Diego after over six months of toil and 
hardship. 

On the 24th of March, 1770, the supply 
ship from Mexico arrived and in a few weeks 
expeditions were ready to search for the hid- 
den Monterey. Father Crespi led the land 
party and arrived at the Point of Pines seven 
days before the ships arrived with Junipero, 
still enfeebled from illness, on board. 

21 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

The next day the parties met amid great 
rejoicing, and on June 3, 1770, they took 
possession in the name of the Church and the 
King, planting the cross and the royal standard 
side by side in the sand on the same spot 
where Viscayno with the Carmelite friars had 
landed one hundred and sixty-seven years 
before. 

The history of the next fifteen years is one 
of struggle, hardship and heroic achievement. 
Father Serra was the mainspring and support 
of it all. There seemed no limit to his endur- 
ance or bound to his desires ; nothing daunted 
his courage or chilled his sublime faith. 

There were nine missions founded by him 
before his death in 1784. In order: San 
Diego in 1769; San Carlos de Monterey June 
3, 1770; San Antonio de Padua July 14, 1771 ; 
San Gabriel September 8, 1771 ; San Luis Obis- 
po September 1, 1772; San Francisco de Assisi 
October 9, 1776; San Juan Capistrano Novem- 
ber 1, 1776; Santa Clara January 18, 1777; 
and San Buena Ventura March 3, 1782. 

The records of the founding of the Missions 
are similar in detail, but are full of interest to 
one of sympathy either with their spiritual or 
historical significance. 

22 



THE GREAT FRJNCISCANS AND THEIR WORK 

At the Mission San Antonio, which was 
one of the richest and most repaying, was a 
curious mill in which flour was ground. It 
was run by water brought in a stone-walled 
ditch for many miles and driven against a 
large wheel through a funnel-shaped flume. 
It was entirely the work of an Indian named 
Nolberto, and made the Mission famous for 
the best flour made in the new country. 

The Indians of San Gabriel seem to have 
been a superior race. They spoke a soft, 
musical language and had many usages of 
politeness, such as '*a child bringing water to 
an elder must not touch it," and that **to pass 
between two persons who were speaking was 
an offence." They also played games in 
which they decked themselves with flowers, 
and had song contests which often lasted 
many days. 

The San Carlos Mission at Monterey was 
Father Junipero's own charge. There he 
spent all his time when not called away by 
his duties as President of the Missions. It 
was there he died and was buried. There 
also his beloved friend and brother. Father 
Crespi, labored by his side for thirteen years. 
Almost with his dying breath Father Junipero 

23 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

had promised to use **all his influence with 
God" in behalf of the Missions. In the 
next four months there were so many con- 
verts that the belief became common that 
his soul had passed diredtly into heaven and 
that the great wave of conversions was the 
result of his prayers. Prosperity continued 
steadily to increase. 

The rule of the friars was in the main a 
kindly one. The vice of drunkenness was 
severely punished by flogging. Quarrelling 
between husbands and wives was also dealt 
with summarily. The offending parties were 
chained together by the leg until they were 
glad to promise to keep peace. 

At every Mission there were walled gar- 
dens with waving palms, sparkling fountains, 
groves of olive trees, broad vineyards and 
orchards of all manner of fruits. 

In a comparatively short time the good 
friars had transformed savages into masons, 
carpenters, plasterers, soap-makers, tanners, 
shoe-makers, blacksmiths, millers, bakers, 
cooks, brick-makers, carters and cart-makers, 
weavers and spinners, saddlers, ship-hands, 
agriculturalists, herdsmen and vintagers. 

In all the Missions were buildings on a large 

24 



THE GREAT FRANCISCANS AND THEIR WORK 

scale, providing for hundreds of occupants 
for all the necessary trades and manufad:ures 
and many of the ornamental arts of civilized 
life. Enormous tradls of land were under 
high cultivation; the grains and cool fruits 
of the temperate zone flourished side by side 
by the palm, olive, grape, fig, orange and 
pomegranate. 

From the two hundred head of cattle sent 
by the wise Galvez, had grown herds past 
numbering; and to these had been added vast 
flocks of sheep and herds of horses. In the 
nineteen Missions were gathered over twenty 
thousand Indians, leading regular and indus- 
trious lives and conforming to the rules of the 
Church. 

The friars were forced, on account of their 
situation, into the exercise of a constant and 
abounding hospitality, and this they discharged 
most royally. Travelers rooms were kept 
always ready in every Mission. He was served 
with the best of wine and food as long as he 
would stay, and when he left was offered a 
fresh horse to continue his journey. All the 
California travelers and voyagers speak in 
glowing terms of this generous and cordial 
treatment of the friars. 

25 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

Did you ever pause to think what a differ- 
ence there was a hundred years ago between 
the atmosphere of Hfe on the east and west 
sides of the American continent? On the 
Atlantic shore the descendants of the Puritans, 
weighed down by serious purpose, half grudg- 
ing the time for their one staid yearly Thanks- 
giving and driving the Indians farther and 
farther into the wilderness every year, fighting 
and killing them ; on the sunny Pacific shore 
the merry people of Mexican and Spanish 
blood, troubling themselves about nothing, 
dancing away whole days and nights like 
children, while their priests were gathering 
the Indians by thousands into communities 
and feeding and teaching them. Mission after 
Mission had been founded until, in 1804, the 
line extended from San Diego to San Fran- 
cisco, and comprised nineteen Missions, an 
easy day's journey apart from each other. 

The ten new Missions were founded in 
the following order : Santa Barbara December 
4, 1786; La Purissima Concepcion December 
8, 1787; Santa Cruz September 25, 1791; 
Soledad October 9, 1791; San Jose June 11, 
1797; San Juan Bautista June 24, 1797; San 
Miguel July 25, 1797; San Fernando Rey 

26 



THE GREAT FRANCISCANS AND THEIR WORK 

September 8, 1797; San Luis Rey de Francia 
June 18, 1798; and Santa Inez, September 
7, 1804. Beginnings had also been made on 
a second line to be from thirty to fifty miles 
back from the sea, and this inland chain of 
settlements and development promised to be 
in no way inferior to the first. 

The wealth of the Mission establishments 
had grown to an almost incredible degree. In 
several of them massive stone churches had 
been built, of an archited:ure at once so simple 
and harmonious that even in ruins it is today 
the grandest in America; and it will remain, 
so long as arch, pillar, or dome of it shall 
stand, a noble and touching monument of the 
patient Indian workers who built, and of the 
devoted friars who designed, its majestic and 
graceful proportions. 

The Mission of San Rafael Arcangel was 
founded December 14, 1817, in the beautiful 
spot where the city of San Rafael now stands, 
but not a trace remains save one or two old 
pear trees planted by the fathers. 

On July 4, 1823, the Mission of San Fran- 
cisco de Solano was founded by Padre Alti- 
mira. It was the twenty-first and the last of 
the great chain of California Missions, the 

27 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

like of which is not to be found elsewhere in 
the world. Its beautiful gardens are obliter- 
ated, its great bells gone, and it is fast decay- 
ing. These last two missions were founded 
too late to attain any great success or import- 
ance. With the increase of wealth, success 
and power of the Missions, came troubles 
with the military settlements. In the begin- 
ning there were no grants of land ; everything 
was done by Eoyal Decree. 

The Mission affairs, literally, were admin- 
istered with admirable simplicity and system. 
The soul of the plan was "the minimum of 
fundtionaries with the maximum of responsi- 
bility." The soldiers were sent avowedly to 
proted: the friars, but by 1800 it had become 
the duty of the Missions to support the Pre- 
sidios, the military governors being authorized 
to draw upon the friars not only for supplies 
but for contributions of money and for levies 
of laborers. In the years between 1801 and 
1810 the Missions furnished the Presidios about 
eighteen thousand dollars worth of supplies. 
In the year 1820 the outstanding drafts on the 
Government in favor of the Missions amount- 
ed to four hundred thousand dollars. By now 
the Spanish government was impatient to see 

28 



THE GREAT FRANCISCANS JND THEIR WORK 

carried out, and to reap the benefit of, the 
pueblo feature of its colonization plan. 

This meant the forming of the Indian com- 
munities of the Missions into pueblos, or 
towns, the Missions to be secularized, that is, 
turned into curacies, the pueblo being the 
parish. This was no doubt the wise and 
proper ultimate scheme, but it came prema- 
turely. This was set forth in sounding phrase 
as purely for the Indians' benefit, that they 
might become citizens of towns; but it was 
more for Spain, since by its provisions one- 
half of the Mission lands were to be sold for 
the payment of Spain's national debt. 

Affairs grew more and more unsettled. 
Spanish viceroys and Mexican insurgents took 
turns at ruling in Mexico, and the represen- 
tatives of each took turns at ruling in Cali- 
fornia. During three years the secularization 
projed: was continually agitated. At last in 
1834 the final blow fell on the Missions. The 
Governor of California, on instructions from 
Mexico, issued an authoritative edid: for their 
secularization. The friars were to hand over 
all records and inventories, lands, movable 
property, property of all classes to stewards or 
administrators appointed. Dwindle goes on 

29 



DRIFT a DREAMS 

to say: ** The laws were executed in such a 
manner that the so-called secularization of the 
Missions resulted in their plunder and com- 
plete ruin and in the demoralization and dis- 
persion of the christianized Indians." 

In 1834 there were, at the lowest estimates, 
20,000 Indians in the Missions: De Mofra's 
statistics gives the number at 30,620; in 1840 
there were left, all told, 6,000. In compari- 
son, for these same six years the number of 
cattle, horses, sheep and mules fell from 
808,000 to 6,320. Under the new regime the 
friars sufFered hardly less than the Indians. 
Some fled the country, unable to bear the 
humiliations and hardships of their positions 
under the major-domos. 

Among this number was Father Peyri, who 
had been for over thirty years in charge of the 
splendid Mission of San Luis Rey. In 1829 
it had 2686 Indians, 20,000 head of cattle and 
20,000 head of sheep. It controlled 200,000 
acres of land and there were raised in its fields 
in one year 3000 bushels of v^heat, 6000 bush- 
els of barley and 10,000 bushels of corn. No 
other Mission had so fine a church. It was 
one hundred and sixty feet long, fifty feet 
wide and sixty high, with walls four feet 

30 



THE GREJT FRANCISCANS AND THEIR WORK 

thick. The tower had a belfry for eight bells. 
The corridor on the opposite side had two 
hundred and fifty-six arches. Its gold and 
silver ornaments are said to have been superb. 
Father Azagomas of San Luis Obispo, Father 
Gutierrez of San Antonio, and Father Sarria 
of Soledad Mission, were soldiers of the cross 
who remained with their Indian charges till 
death freed them from their sufferings. 

For ten years after the Secularization Act 
affairs went steadily from bad to worse. In 
March, 1846, Governor Pico was authorized 
by the President of Mexico to sell the Mis- 
sions to raise money to defend the country 
against the United States. This he did at 
illegal sales and for insignificant sums. On the 
7th of Juty, 1846, the American flag was raised 
at Monterey and formal possession of Cali- 
fornia was taken by the United States. Then 
after being held in abeyance for years, the 
church. Mission buildings and small parcels of 
land, were returned into the unalienable pos- 
session of the Catholic Church. The Mission 
property, the large tracts of land cultivated for 
the community's purpose, it was decided, 
must be considered as government property. 
The Santa Barbara Mission is still in the 

31 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

charge of Franciscans, the only one remain- 
ing in their possession. It stands three miles 
from the beach, on high ground back of the 
town and looking to the sea. It is an ever- 
lasting benediction to the city. About thirty 
miles to the north lies the most desolate ruin 
of all the Missions. Poor La Purissima! 
Founded by one of the ables padres — Lausen 
— it seemed claimed by adversity. Almost 
totally destroyed by the earthquake of 1812, 
it was rebuilt, and later badly damaged by the 
Indians in 1824. Nothing is left now but a 
long, low adobe building in desolate ruins. 
Here, too, some old pear trees are to be 
found, which stretch out gaunt and shriveled 
boughs which still bear a few pinched little 
blossoms. 

At San Juan Bautista there lingers more of 
the atmosphere of the olden time than is to 
be found in any other place in California. 
The Mission church is well preserved and its 
grounds are enclosed and cared for. In its 
garden the roses and vines still grow in the 
shelter of ancient palms. The church fronts 
south, on a little green, locust- walled plaza, 
the sleepiest, sunniest, dreamiest place in the 
world. In 1825 there were spoken at this 

32 



THE GREJT FRANCISCANS AND THEIR WORK 

Mission thirteen different Indian dialects. 
The Mission San Francisco De Assisi, in 
San Francisco, is also in an excellent state of 
preservation. Its grounds are narrowed down, 
by the modern world, to the small cemetery 
on the south side, but services are held regu- 
larly, and it presents a sharp contrast in dura- 
bility of material and construction to the new 
church, which was completely destroyed in 
the earthquake and fire of 1906. A worthy 
and admirable work is the recent placing of 
Mission bell sign posts along the Camina Real, 
and it is to be hoped that the people of today 
may and will awake to a tardy realization of 
the grand work of the pioneers of California. 
For such were the Franciscan fathers in the 
truest sense of the word. They were men of 
pure character, of superior talent and morals, 
of greatest unselfishness and untiring energy. 
For these good and devoted men, who with 
such wisdom, sagacity and self-sacrifice, reared 
these wonderful institutions in the wilderness 
of California we can but feel the greatest love 
and reverence. It is surely our duty to learn 
all we can of their wonderful achievement and 
to perpetuate in every possible way the glory 
of their names. 

33 



DRIFT a DREAMS 



AN INDIAN LAMENT. 

The day is done. Across the plain 
The evening shadows slowly creep; 
And twilight flings her violet robe 
To lull the weary earth to sleep. 

The birds fly homeward to the nest, 
Crooning a lullaby to the day; 
Faint voices of the evening wake 
And softly on my heart-strings play. 

As in a dream, I see once more 
The lordly chiefs in council sit. 
I hear again their voices chant 
Our legends old — by firelight lit. 

Their words of council — wisely given - 
Come echoing back o'er barren years. 
Alas! The pledge was unfulfilled 
And faith has given place to fears. 

The God-given lands are ours no more, 
Our people scattered far and wide; 
T he fleet deer and the buffalo 
No longer speed our chase beside. 



34 



JN INDUN'S LJMENT 

An ancient race of nature's men 

Has fallen to a low estate. 

And answering my protesting cry, 

The chill of evening wails, "Too late." 

I fold my arms on the aching breast, 

I turn my face to the setting sun. 

I wait in patience the call to rest, 

'Tis the Father's will. The day is done. 




35 



DRIFT a DREAMS 



IN YEARS TO COME. 



In years to come ! What a mystic phrase ! 
With wonder we think of those future days. 
We clothe that time with our dearest dreams, 
Our fondest hopes, till at last there gleams 
Our ideal bright and clear. 

One longs for a name renowned and great, 
And to win this crown he wars with fate. 
Hope in his heart for those future years. 
Guides him safely through toil and fears 
Like a beacon light afar. 

Another dreams of a quiet nest 
Far away with one his heart loves best. 
The aching brain by a sweet voice lulled. 
The tired eyes rested by roses culled 
In a twilight garden fair. 

The sailor dreams as he rides the foam 
Of the bonny lass who waits at home. 
Of the time at last, with a guerdon won. 
Home from the treacherous sea he'll come 
To claim his own fair bride. 



36 



IN YEARS TO COME 

In the city one toils from early morn 
With patient courage, till set of sun; 
With steadfast hope that the future bring^s 
Him the joy of travel, — the bird that sings 
Bravely within his heart. 

And oft there lives in a mansion grand, 
With luxuries on every hand, 
An empty heart: that would gladly give 
All wealth, but a little while to live 
In the realm of love's content. 

Tell me, oh future years to come, 
Do you bring at last the wanderer home? 
Will the plaudits of a famous name 
Ring out for him who longs for fame. 
And strives so hard to win? 

My heart goes out to him who dreamed 
Of the quiet nest, — so sweet it seemed. 
Will he find the roses he loved so well? 
And will Love the old, old story tell 
At last, to that empty heart? 

Beyond today we may not know. 
But the stars each night in the heavens glow. 
And faith that our dreams come true, at last. 
Shall guide our bark though the waves sweep fast 
On life's tempestuous sea. 



37 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 



A PROPHESY. 

Last night in the midst of a peaceful sleep 

A vision came to me — 
And I beheld a happy throng 

Marching in harmony. 

Sometimes the road was smooth and straight, 

Sometimes over stony lands. 
Then the stronger turned and helped the weak, 

With eager outstretched hands. 

Each beautiful act brought its own reward, 

Each kind, unselfish word 
Spoken to a faltering one, 

On the echo, afar was heard. 

Then I knew that the dream was a prophesy. 

That a message had been sent, 
To each and every one of us 

That our lives be wisely spent. 

That we march courageously on and up, 

Toward a shining goal, 
Striving to be broad, and true, 

And helping, with heart and soul. 



38 



A PROPHESY 

Let us have, like a beacon on a hill, 

An Ideal, — clear and bright. 
Then steadfastly climb toward it 

With helping hands — left and right. 

Forgetful of self, let us each attempt 
Something that is worth while. 

Let us be large in thought and deed. 
And generous in word and smile. 

Remember, he who gives most away 

The richer is by far; 
And the soul that sees not another's fault, 

Has Heaven for its guiding star. 

And now I dream of another throng, 

Of lofty ideals the same; 
The bright club women of today, 

All honor to their name. 



39 



DRIFT a DREAMS 



FRIENDSHIP. 

(To Hattie.) 

I wandered along in a listless way 
Grown tired of the dusty road. 
The hills that at morn had looked so fair 
Seemed my weary eyes to goad. 

The flowers had wilted from mid-day heat, 
And life seemed a joyless dream 
When, all unlooked-for beside my path, 
Shone a beautiful jewel's gleam. 

I stooped to gather the gem so rare. 
And into my bosom thrust 
With boundless joy — this precious find, 
A friend that I could trust. 



40 




ONE HOUR IN A THOUSAND YEARS* 

' ' A duty fulfilled is the only peace. ' ' 

O the busy, rushing, modern 
world I am only a beautiful 
jewel. I admit being one 
of the favorite gems, and 
that, even to these thought- 
less ones of today, I some- 
times bring a hint of mys- 
tery. Yet how little they understand ! But 
the Wise Man of the East would hold me 
tenderly in his hand and tell you — with pity 
for your shallow knowledge in his deep, calm 
eyes — that every opal is an imprisoned soul, 
to which comes an hour of freedom once in 
a thousand years. 

If Love, or Friendship, or Loyalty, or in 
the words of the Eastern poet, *'the one most 
dear" has stood the test of time, finding her, 
the soul will remain forever free. 

On the other hand, if the hour's search 
reveals not such constancy, truth and faithful- 
ness, the soul must return to its prison again. 



41 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

I am filled with a longing so great it is 
almost a mortal pain. As the midnight hour 
draws near it seems as if each second length- 
ened itself purposely, to test my strength of 
endurance. But the great law is inexorable, 
and everything passes — even time. With an 
inner trembling I remember that they say 
Love passes too; but that I cannot believe! 
No, even Time cannot conquer Love! Is not 
the fervor of my own heart proof enough of 
this ? Now, as I look back, I can forgive the 
endless years of waiting wherein was no thought 
but of the hour when I should be free, to flee 
to Her. Mortals deem my prison cell very 
beautiful. I am surrounded by earth's most 
precious gems — pure glittering diamonds. 

A gentle lady holds me dear and has given 
me, for many years, her care and affection. 
This has been to me like a cool, sustaining 
breeze to the fevered brow of a fainting trav- 
eler. Indeed I think she understands. Her 
soul has oft communed with mine, over the 
hedge of life's trivialities, and the communion 
has been sweet. She is so gentle and dear, 
at times I almost shink — but hark! at last 
the bells! one second more and I shall be free! 

Hs Hs * * 5jc * 

42 



ONE HOUR IN A THOUSAND TEARS 

Oh, the glorious expanse of the starHt sky ! 
The exquisite joy of stretching again the long 
cramped wings! The fresh, sweet night air, 
and the unutterable joy of freedom in your 
heart! There is no question of the way — 
just straight to Her, and finding Her true and 
faithful, there will never be for me the prison 
cell again. 

*J> *!> -^ »1» *j> 

•P" *V' •!* •!* 'I* 

I have hunted far without finding a trace 
of the "one most dear". Everything is 
changed, and I am so weary. Yet my hour 
of liberty flies quickly by. I know not which 
way to turn! Something seems to draw me, 
as in a circle, back to the beginning of my 
flight. Oh, for a word of guidance! 

Then a heavenly calm falls over me and a 
voice whispers in my ear: — 

"Thy ' one most dear ' is a prisoner also. 
Had thy thoughts been less of self thou 
wouldst have known how very near to thee 
she was." 

"Thy prison cell is thy duty. Fulfilling 
that duty, thou shalt have peace. Strength- 
ening thy faith, thou shalt see clearly. For- 
getting thyself, great reward shall be thine." 

43 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

I am ready, nay, anxious to go back! 

I await the toll of the bell! When the 
gentle lady looks long and earnestly into my 
heart again, I shall better understand. I shall 
know that our souls are very near. That 
soon, a thousand years, or but a day — it 
matters not — duty will be fulfilled and we 
shall be one through all eternity. 

Till then, I will wait content; knowing 
that love is true, that a duty fulfilled is the 
only peace, and that our souls, though often 
faint, can never die. 




44 



AN UNINVITED GUEST. 

' ' To hesitate is to lose — alnuays. ' ' 




Y first consciousness was of 
some disturbing element — 
something vague — intruding 
itself upon me, and against 
which I rebelled, for my sleep 
had been deep and refreshing 
and the darkness told me it 
must still be quite early. So I nestled down 
a little closer among the warm covers and 
tried to drift away again. But it was useless. 
For now I could distinctly hear a gentle but 
persistent tapping at the entrance of my 
thoughts. Resignedly I rouse myself, and 
cautiously opened the door, and there, close 
to the portals a chubby little fellow stood, 
smiling up at me. 

It was His Thought — I recognized him 
instantly. In the second's hesitation, the 
moment of mental conflict between the 
strange wish to call him in and the certain 
knowledge that he was a bold intruder and 
without any right to enter, he toddled by me 

45 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 

and with a winsome glance stood in the very 
center of the sanctuary, expectantly looking 
up at me. 

He was so small in the big, bare room that 
had been so long untenanted! And yet he 
had brought with him such a glow of warmth 
and happiness that I drew quickly back that 
I might — just for a moment — watch him 
unobserved. There was also a feeling of 
guilt. I should never, never have allowed 
him to come in ; and now nothing remained 
but to put him out again. 

But how? To hesitate is to lose — always. 

When I looked again he was no longer 
alone! My Thought was there with him, 
hand in hand, and they were as contented 
and care free as two butterflies in the sun- 
shine. My reasoning material self seemed to 
shrink and fade away, and the power to act 
was suspended; I could only remain motion- 
less and watch. 

Then, without a thought, they clambered 
all over my choice conventionalities, pulled 
down my ancient rules and precepts and scat- 
tered my well kept regulations all over the 
floor. They nibbled greedily of my treasured 
sweets, then ruthlessly soiled my keepsakes, 

46 



AN UNINVITED GUEST 

leaving marks Time will be long in effacing. 
And through it all they were amazingly 
happy ! I could have gasped, only the fasci- 
nation of what was happening held me noise- 
less. How My Thought had stolen from me 
I could never tell; but since she had joined 
the little ** poacher", the pair boldly ruined 
my best intentions, disarming me with their 
foolish happiness. 

Suddenly a noise of the outer world brings 
a realization that the regular routine of life 
must be taken up again. With a start I catch 
up My Thought, and giving her a cruel little 
shake, I crush her back of will and duty, and 
bundle His Thought out into the cold and 
close the door quickly. 

But not so quickly but that he had time to 
turn his curly head and flash up at me a taunt- 
ing smile which told me, only too plainly, 
that he knew the way and might come again. 

And since there is no denying he has a 
confederate still on the inside, I stand and 
hold the door, not knowing 



47 



DRIFT O' DREAMS 



THE BORDER GATE. 

I seem to stand on a rugged crest, 

A place where three trails meet. 

With backward glance I can trace the path 

I climbed with youth' s brave feet. 

There are many spots where the sun shone bright 
Some, too, with lonesome shade, 
And some where storms beat cruelly 
Before these heights were made. 

'Twas good that youth was with me then, 
'Twere a sad attempt made now. 
I turn my face to the future place 
Nor thoughts of the past allow. 

Down the second path as I shield my eyes 
And look toward life's setting sun. 
There hangs a mist of uncertainty 
To pass, ere the journey's done. 

Then there comes a murmur to my ears, 
Like the song of a summer sea. 
And I know, before my soul admits — 
That the third trail calls to me. 



48 



THE BORDER GATE 

Like distant music on breezes borne, 
Or a half-glimpse of beauties rare, 
Comes the longing to fathom the beyond. 
To slip from this world of care. 

The rustling leaves a summons bring. 
The shadows beckon a hand. 
And I long through the border gate to swing. 
Into the unknown land. 




49 



DRIFr O' DREAMS 



CLOSING THE CLUB YEAR. 

Another year! So much it means 
Either of progress or decay. 
For in our busy rushing world 
There is no " standing still " today. 

Each one must march with lifted face 
Toward the higher spheres, that call; 
Or careless, lagging, lose the race, 
And slow decay, like crumbling wall. 

The bright club-women here today, 
Have heard the call, and eager rise 
The heights to climb, the truth to prove : 
Success in earnest effort lies. , 

So let us in the coming year. 
New victories win, — new heights attain. 
" On every mountain-top is rest" 
Each cross is given a crown to gain. 



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